Couple jump into Yangtze River

A young couple jumped into the Yangtze River from the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge yesterday afternoon, and are reported missing, the Hubei Daily reported.

A Hubei Daily reporter was taking photos of air pollution near the river when someone suddenly shouted: "there is a person in the river!" When he looked under the bridge to investigate what had happened, another person climbed over the guardrail and jumped off.

The reporter photographed the incident and called the police. However, the two were engulfed by the cold water in less than 10 seconds. The police arrived at the scene two minutes later and called for a speedboat.

Two black jackets, a woman's handbag, a bottle of drinks and a lighter were found where the pair had jumped from the bridge. The reporter later recalled that 10 minutes before the incident he passed by a couple wearing black leaning against the guardrail and smoking.

An identity card found from the items showed that one of the jumpers was a 20-year-old man surnamed Liu. He was from Huangpo district's Caidian town, located in Wuhan.

Liu's uncle told the reporter that the young man hadn't quarreled with his parents, and had no idea who the woman was.